How to remove tim on heatsink?

[FredC]

What is the best way to remove a hardened tim from a heatsink? I just got some thermal grease from Radio Shack but need to get the stuff off my cpu and heatsink now. How should I do it?

 

[J3anyus]

I use an old campus ID card and scrape it off with that. Make sure that you scrape it off with something plastic, because something metal will scratch the heatsink and really decrease its performance.

The grease from Radio Shack isn't going to help your temps much, though. I recommend ordering a tube of Arctic Silver II to use for grease. You'll probably see a 2-5C difference between the Radio Shack stuff and Arctic Silver II.

 

[CStroman]

Some people use rubbing alcohol. You should also lap your heatsink to make sure it's all gone.

 

[clumsum]

As J3anyus advises, use something plastic so you don't scratch or scar the heatsink ..................
I usually use a plastic-ware knife to remove most of the tim, then some "Goo Gone" to get the rest off, ......... then some fingernail polish remover or alcohol to remove all the residue.